Progress in the Nursery!

Just a warning, this is a total rambling post and will probably seem very silly!

I wish I was more artistic. I do not have many of those creative, artsy genes in my body. I was wide awake last night from about 2-4 AM worrying. About labor? About how much our life is going to change? About Christmas shopping I still have to do? Nope. I was worrying that the nursery is going to be too green. See, Brad and I made an agreement that we would keep the room the same green to avoid Brad having to paint. Right now the room is green on the bottom half with chair rail molding and white on the top. I like it, but I really want to be able to accent with blues without going overboard. So I have obsessed over finding cute boy bedding that has just enough green, but still says boy. I found the bedding at Pottery Barn, bought it, still love it, and had this great plan to paint name letters for above either the crib or changing table. My goal was to paint the letters green, and accent them with stencils using blue and white, hoping to tie all the colors together. So last night I got out all the materials, began painting, and realized about 1/2 way through that (1) the green is slightly off, (2) they look homemade and not in a good way, and (3) the room still screams green to me. I want everything to tie in together and I know we don't even have anything in the room yet, but I just couldn't envision it all put together.

But today I gave in and bought myself (and John) a Christmas present that I hope will solve it all. I had found these curtains a while back but couldn't really justify the cost of them. But today I reasoned with myself that if it saves me stress (and I found them w/ free shipping and no sales tax), then it is worth it. So, I hope they are everything I am thinking they will be and will tie everything together. Here is a picture of my new purchase:

See, told you this was a silly post! I'm sure once he gets here, the color of the room will be the least of our worries! But for now I am happy! And, Brad finished putting the crib and bookshelves together tonight, so there is progress! Hopefully now I can sleep tonight... :)

Merry Christmas!

These past few weeks have gone by so quickly, I can't believe it is Christmas this week! I love this time of year! Brad's graduation and birthday party was a success, I have been finishing up my shopping, and the Goodell family celebrated our Christmas today, so this week will be nice and relaxing! My girlfriends and I are having our annual Christmas party this year on Christmas Eve, as a brunch, so that will be the next holiday event! Then my mom and dad are hosting the Lawrence family on Christmas Eve, then we will head to Indiana for the Monhaut family Christmas on Friday.

I go in for my next appointment on Tuesday, and after this I have to start going to the doctor every two weeks! John has been very active lately, kicking and moving all over the place, which is fun. It is so weird to watch my stomach move all over the place. Allie, our dog, was laying right up next to my stomach the other night and he kicked so hard, she turned and looked at me like, "What was that?!" It was so funny. I am getting a prenatal massage at the hospital next Monday, I am sooooo excited. I still feel good, but I just feel like I need to stretch constantly and my hips start hurting at night. I also am starting a prenatal water aerobics class on Jan 5th, so hopefully that helps me loosen up too. Over all though, I feel good, just getting bigger! Some days I feel HUGE and other days I feel like I still have a small bump. I think its all what I wear :) Speaking of, my sister and I went shopping yesterday and I got a really cute top I think I will wear for my shower in January!

I am SO SO SO excited to start working on the baby's room. We are getting our carpets cleaned Tuesday, so Brad will put the crib together on Thursday when he is off. So yesterday Brad was working on clearing out the room because we are getting our carpets cleaned. I was out finishing some Christmas shopping, and called him on my way home. He told me he got everything moved out, very happy about it. So I get home and go upstairs, walk into our bedroom (which is right across the hall from soon to be baby's room) and see all the stuff on OUR floor. Ummm, they are cleaning all the carpets upstairs honey, not just that one room. Hehe. Gotta love his effort though :) So he moved it all to the basement.

Here is a random picture I took yesterday morning when I was going to the gym. This shirt really showed off my bump :)



Merry Christmas to everyone if I don't talk with you or see over the next week! We wish everyone a happy holiday and New Year!

30th Birthdays, Graduation, and end of 2nd Trimester!

This is going to be one busy week coming up. Brad is graduating from MSU with his MBA on Friday, and turns the big 3-0 this Saturday. So, we are having a party on Saturday for the Army/Navy game to celebrate. Which I am very excited for, but am just starting to feel overwhelmed. I think my nesting is starting to happen. Actually, the thoughts are there, but actually doing it all seems overwhelming. My closets are driving me crazy. Right now Brad and I each have a small closet in our bedroom. I also use the large one in the guest room, and Brad uses the other medium size one in what will be the baby's room. Soooo, I need to condense my clothes all into the guest bedroom and Brad will take the two in our bedroom. Have I mentioned that I have a shopping addiction??? Not only are my closets full, but I also have two dressers that are overflowing, and a pile (no, actually a mountain) of clothes in the basement. Oh, and about two or three laundry baskets full of clothes that probably haven't been opened since we moved here from CO two and a half years ago. YIKES! And I want it all organized by Christmas. HA!

Actually, I made good progress last night. I opened my big closet and just started making Goodwill bags. I have already done this, but you know how you find yourself saying, "Oh, I forgot I had that!" or "That's cute, I will DEFINITELY wear that!" or "Oh, I loved these pants...I'll fit back into them again!" Again, wishful thinking. Well, last night I meant business and I made some serious progress. I am so proud. I felt so good that I even went to my other closet, but the minute I opened that I got overwhelmed and decided to wait. So I went to Kohls instead....ha, don't worry, I just bought one shirt for me! :)

So anyways, my mom is going to come over today and help me clean our main floor. I want to move furniture, sweep and mop all the floors, and at least feel like that is somewhat ready for next weekend. The upstairs will have to wait until my break in a few weeks. Brad will clean out his "office" aka the baby's room now that he is finished with school and we can really start some progress there! And that is what I can't wait for!

So, sorry for my rambling, just so much to do. Instead of sitting on the computer, I guess I better get going. Here is a 26 week picture since I didn't post one last week. My last week in the 2nd trimester! Yay! It seems like a far time away still to think 14 weeks, but 3 months is really not that far away! Anyways, more ramblings to come (and hopefully with more progress), so stay tuned!

Thanksgiving and Baby Shower!

Brad and I had a great Thanksgiving. We drove down to IN Wednesday night after Brad got out of work. We were both in such good moods after havng such good results at our ultrasound earlier that day. It was a good start to the weekend!

Brad's family always rents out a hall for Thanksgiving, since the Monhaut family has so many people. I think there were over 45 people there for dinner, so plenty of food to say the least!

We hung out and were able to catch up with some of Brad's friends from high school and their kids on Friday, so it was great to see them. My mother-in-law and I shopped a little, and then got ready for the big party on Saturday.

The shower went great, we were so excited and overwhelmed with everything we got. We got a lot of cute clothes, our jogging stroller, and some great handmade blankets and quilts from Brad's grandma and cousin, among many other things. John even got his first pair of Air Jordan's from his cousins Mason and Jared :) Our car was packed on the way home! It makes it seem so real now that it is actually happening!

I know most of you have seen these on Facebook, but here are a few pics from the shower. My sister took more, so I will add those when I get them...



Allie thinks this is all for her. She jumped back on top of all the gifts on the way home...oh, is she in for a shock in March!

Thanks again Nan and Lisa! It was perfect!

Ultrasound Update

I just got back from our follow up ultrasound and everything looks great!! The cysts are gone, and our little baby is healthy! He wasn't too cooperative during the ultrasound, so we didn't really get any new exciting shots of him, but he is healthy and that is the most important thing! Thanks for all of your prayers! It means a lot to us to know so many people care about us.

Now I am off to pack for our big weekend! We can't wait! I will post some pictures of our shower and my 25 week belly when we get back.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Where did November go?

This month is flying by! I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving. Usually I feel like November goes by slow, but it seriously has felt like I blinked and all of a sudden it is the 19th!

I have been pretty busy with work lately. We have had a lot of professional development this month, I went to a math conference last weekend, and we have parent teacher conferences on Monday and Tuesday. But then, we have the rest of the week off! Yay!! I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year. We really do have a lot to be thankful for. We are going to Indiana for the weekend and Brad's mom and sister are throwing us a baby shower! Yay!! I am so excited, it will be so much fun. It seems crazy that is it already here!

We have our big follow up appointment on Wednesday, so hopefully everything will be fine and the cysts will be gone. Please say prayers for us and the baby that all will be healthy. Also, I don't think I really shared this yet, but Brad and I have officially decided we are naming our son John Bradley Monhaut. :) I love it. John was Brad's Grandpa Monhaut's name, so it is pretty meaningful to us. It's been fun to refer to him by name :)

My mom, sister, and I went to some outlet shops in Birch run last weekend, and found some pretty cute boy clothes. His closet is quickly growing...doesn't help that his mom has a slight shopping obsession...especially when it comes to clothes. Oops. At least he will look cute!

This weekend will be busy getting ready for next week. I have a long list of things to do/appointments on Saturday, and then Sunday we are heading to Allen Park for a baptism celebration. Our friends Stacey and Danny had a little boy in June, and I can not wait to finally meet him! They are getting him baptized so it will be great to see them and their family.

Well, I am off to watch the Project Runway Finale! I'll try to post on Wednesday after our appt and give an update on his cysts. Thanks for praying for us!

22 Weeks!

Here is my expanding belly...notice Allie staring at me, like, "What the heck are you doing?"


Not too much going on this week. Brad has school this weekend, so my mom and I are going to hang out tomorrow while my Dad and Doug work on our bathroom. It is looking good, almost there! I can't wait to post pics of that soon!

Libby celebrated her first Halloween...her shirt says it all...


I ended up ordering a few of the GAP bedding pieces...and I don't like them. So tonight, as I was leaving the gym, I decided to take a left turn instead of a right turn and SOMEHOW ended up at Somerset Mall, in Pottery Barn Kids :) And walked out with some bedding...can you say obsessed? Anyways, I like it as of now, but knowing me, I always change my mind a million times. This is what I ended up getting:


Not all of it, just the bumper, sheet, and bedskirt. It matches the green in the room perfectly!

Well, it is off to bed for me. I am going to take advantage of Brad being gone and catch up on my DVR shows. Hope you all have a great weekend!

On Cloud Nine

This past week has been so much fun after finding out we are going to have a baby BOY!! The ultrasound was really such an emotional and awesome experience. It was so amazing to see our little guy moving around. Our ultrasound technician did all of her measurements first, and Brad and I were trying to tell what was what on the screen. Finally, she was able to zoom in and thankfully our baby was not shy! She pointed to "it" on the screen, and I think we were both in disbelief what it really was. When she said, "looks like a boy," that's when it finally hit us. My mom was able to come too, so she came in the room after we found out and we were able to tell her the big news. She was super excited too :)

I found out I have an anterior placenta, which is why I haven't really been able to feel movement yet. So, another few weeks and I should be able to feel him kicking away! I can't wait for that, everyone says what an incredible feeling that is!

Our u/s tech put the machine on 3D/4D, so we really got to see him moving around. It was way cooler in person, but here are some more shots from the appointment:

This first one is of his knees and his legs crossed at his ankles...I love this one!

Some 3D images...It is crazy you can actually see his face!

This is one of my favorites with his little hand up by his eye...so cute!


We actually have to go back for another ultrasound on Nov 25th. The ultrasound showed two choroid plexus cysts on his brain. Our doctor told us that while this is not necessarily super common, it isn't really uncommon either. They usually go away by the 24th week and as long as there are no other indicators (which there weren't), there is really no need to worry. Well, of course I am worried, but I actually know of a few people personally who have had this same experience and all had healthy babies, so I think that helps me not freak out quite so much. We are just saying a lot of prayers that he is okay and we will follow up next month.

Brad and I went to Babies R Us to register this week and it was so much fun! When we went on Wednesday, we decided we would each buy an outfit, and he seriously had the hardest time narrowing it down...I think he had five in his hand at one time. It was so cute! He is so excited, it is really fun to watch.

My latest obsession is still bedding. I found a NEW set from GAP that I love, but it is pricey. I was so excited to get a 20% off coupon yesterday for online merchandise, but of course found out it doesn't apply to baby bedding...of course. But, I am still determined to find a way. In the meantime, I can dream about it. Here are a few pieces...




I know it sounds so cliche, but we already love our little boy so much! Brad and I both agreed that we all of a sudden feel so much more of a responsibility to our little guy, and so much more connected now that we know we have a BOY and got to actually see him moving around. Please pray for him that his cysts go away. Thanks to everyone for all of the support and well wishes. I will keep you posted... :)

It's a....

BOY!!!

I will write more details later, but we are SO excited and SO happy! We just went out to dinner to celebrate and are heading to Babies 'R' Us...Brad and I are each going to pick out an outfit :) He is sooooo excited, it is awesome!

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone!

Anticipation

My 19 Week Belly Shots



I can't wait until Wednesday!!! We have our big ultrasound scheduled and the anticipation is killing me! It's not just that that is causing me anticipation. It seems like lately, I a constantly find myself up at 3 in the morning thinking. Will it be a boy or a girl? What will the ultrasound pictures look like? What will it be like to REALLY be pregnant? Am I eating too much? Am I not eating enough (HA! Right!)? What will the hospital be like? What should we register for? What is it going to be like with a child in our house? How will the mornings be when I go back to work? Where will we take the baby for day care? What will it feel like to be a parent? How will it be to be working full time with a baby? Who is my substitute going to be? And the list goes on and on.

Brad is getting a little anxious too. He will ask me at the most random times things like, "What happens if you go into labor and I don't get there in time?" "How often does the baby eat? Why so often?" "What is the difference between a pack-n-play and a bassinet?" It's cute :)

So, we are anxiously counting down until Wednesday. I am just as excited to actually see the baby as I am to find out what the gender is. It will all seem so real. Although my expanding stomach over the past few weeks also reassures me its real. I am now wearing maternity pants, I love those things. They are so comfy!

Brad and I are going to a wedding next weekend, so I will get some more "real" pictures of us. I can't believe it's almost November! I went with my sister and Libby last weekend to get her 3 month pictures taken. Here's one I snuck on my phone. The actual ones are so much cuter! She is getting so big, smiles, all the fun stuff! Here are some recent cute ones too...




Well, I will keep you posted on our big ultrasound. We are praying for a healthy and cooperative baby! :)

Only Brad...

So this was our conversation last night while somehow talking about a picture of a really skinny guy:

Me: "I think you look good with some meat on your bones, I don't find real skinny guys attractive."

Brad: "Well, I don't like skinny girls either, obviously."

And he was serious. Oh, Brad, do not say that to your pregnant wife! And of course the "obviously" part was the clencher! HA! Lucky for him I was not very hormonal last night. He knew right away after he said it how it came out. :)

However, he does have a track record with this. Last year my mom, sister, and I went to the Mall of America. While we were shopping, he called and said, "Hey! Where are you guys, Lane Bryant?"

He was so proud of himself for knowing a women's clothing store. Oh, still so much to teach that boy!

Random Thoughts

I. am. stuffed. Brad and I just went out to dinner and I feel so full, but it was soooo good, worth every bite! We went to Cold Stone too, we haven't had that in forever. Yummy!

So I have decided I am not very good at coming up with new, interesting blog topics. My friends with blogs always have such cute entries with catchy titles, and I am sitting here trying to think what I want to update, and it is really a lot of nothing! All I can really seem to think about is the baby, what type of stroller/travel system to get, and our big ultrasound appointment coming up! So sorry for all of the pregnancy talk, but it is really what is on my mind lately!

Let's see though, what else is new, non baby related? I went with my sister last weekend to our friend Lisa's bachelorette party at a casino downtown, which was fun. Her wedding is in two weeks, so I am looking forward to an evening of getting dressed up, going out with Brad,and perhaps some dancing. I am getting a hair cut tomorrow, and I really want to be daring and do something new and fun, but I always end up with my same old look. So, we'll see how I feel tomorrow :)

Brad and I are going to Babies R Us tomorrow to start picking things out, which is fun. This will be his 3rd time there now, so he is improving. The first time I made him go with me, I don't think he talked for the rest of the day. He kept saying, "We need ALL that?" and then he spend the rest of the day looking at our bank account :)

Hopefully I will get to spend some time with Libby this weekend too. I saw her for a little bit this past week, she is getting bigger and bigger. Her smiles are more and more frequent, which are the cutest thing ever.

Well, that about sums up my non exciting post! I think I will let my stomach settle for a little bit now, maybe catch up on some Project Runway! Good night!

3 Weeks, 4 Days...But Who's Counting?!

We had our 16 week appt this past Wednesday and got to schedule our big ultrasound for October 21st! I am SO excited! Brad and I are definitely in agreement that we want to find out the sex of the baby (as long as he/she is cooperative!). I am just as excited to actually see the baby. At our last appointment, the heartbeat was 164, so Brad is convinced it is a girl. I am still thinking boy...one of us will be right!

I have been feeling great lately, other than a nasty cold I had last week. I have a lot of energy, have been exercising, and feel pretty normal. Here is a 16 week picture I took this morning...definitely the start of something!



My latest obsession has been searching for furniture and bedding for the baby's room. I love to decorate and plan decor, so I am very anxious to get started on a new project. We have decided to leave the room the color it is now. When we moved here two years ago, the previous owners had recently turned the room into a nursery. It is painted a light green on the bottom with chair molding in the middle, and then white on top. My friend Jamie and I went out to dinner at Somerset last week, and stopped at Pottery Barn Kids afterwards. I am absolutely in love with their bedding. I know it is on the pricey side, but I think I will have to splurge on this. I am planning on looking on Ebay to see if I can find some of it cheaper as well. Here is what I like so far:



This is the furniture I like (this is not from PBK, it is from Babies R Us). I think I would only get the crib and the dresser that doubles as a changing table. I still am going back and forth between espresso and white furniture. I like white, but the room is not a "white" white, so I am worried about it looking funny. Hmmm, decisions :)

This is the girl bedding I LOVE! You can't see it great in this picture, but the bumper is double sided and the other side is this gorgeous paisley print with pinks, greens, and purples. You can see it on the quilt if you look closely:



I have two boy bedding sets that I like...What do you think? My friend Rachel had this set for her boys, and it was adorable!



But, I also like...



What do you think???

Back in the swing of things...

So I have been at work with kids for almost two weeks now, and it is going great! I feel like I have a very good group this year, so I am hoping that doesn't change. My morning classes are so small, I only have 16 kids in each! Crazy! I'm not going to lie, it is nice!

We have had a pretty busy few weeks. Brad had class last weekend, so I went to my grandma's house in Canada for her b-day with my sister and Libby and we (sort of) helped with some yard work. Mostly we just played with Libby and I took a little nap...oops. It was fun though. This week Brad is traveling and I have been getting ready for our big bathroom remodel! I am SO excited. My dad and brother-in-law, Doug, are starting on it this weekend while we are in South Bend. I was cleaning out the cabinets tonight and it amazes me how much JUNK we have and how gross it is under there! It will be so nice to have a fresh, clean, new bathrooom. That has been the one room in our house I couldn't stand when we moved here. I'll post before and after pictures when things get started!

This weekend Brad and I are headed to South Bend for the Notre Dame/MSU game. I am excited to see his family and some of his old high school friends. We are planning on tailgating Saturday and then going to the game. I just hope we get to hang out with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law while we are there too!

Other than that, things are pretty good. I have my next dr appt next week, so that will be exciting as usual. I am feeling really good, just tired, but I am always tired when I go back to work and get back into the school routine. My pants are getting tighter and tighter and it is making me a little self conscious, but I keep telling myself to not worry about it. This in between stage is hard though! I was at the gym today and I walked by a mirror and happened to see my reflection...my stomach looked so wierd in my t-shirt. But, soon enough it will turn into a "bump," so that will be exciting. At least pretty much everyone knows that I am pregnant. Everyone at my work has been so great about my pregnancy. I feel very fortunate!

Well, not a very exciting post, but there is an update on what we have been up to. Hope everyone is having a good week!

Out in the Open!

So, I am officially 13 weeks and off to the 2nd trimester! Whooo Hooo! This past week I went back to work and told everyone, announced it on Facebook, and made my blog public...Big steps! It was fun to tell everyone, and it is especially fun to talk openly about it now.

Let's see, not too much new going on around here. It was nice to get back into the swing of things at work, I am looking forward to meeting my new students on Tuesday. The first day of school is so much fun, they are so nervous and cute! We have a pretty busy weekend here. I am procrastinating right now, the room I am sitting in is FULL of my clothes. I started cleaning out closets a few weeks ago, and I took everything out, made 9 bags for Goodwill, but have yet to really put everything back in. You know those chores that you dread so much, but when you actually do it, it doesn't even really take that long? Well, this is one of them. And yes, I have already today come up with excuses to put it off longer. After I type this, I am going to go to Target and then the gym, THEN I will come back and do it...I promise!!!

Tomorrow Brad and I are going to the EMU/Army game. Brad's work is sponsoring a tailgate and Brad has to present a check to Eastern Michigan on the field between the 1st and 2nd quarter. Hehe, I am excited to take pictures. Then, on Sunday, Allie and I are heading to my parents b/c Brad is hosting a Fantasy Football Live Draft party with a bunch of guys here. So, another reason to get cleaning, because I know some guys are staying over and will appreciate a bed that is not full of clothes!

We have a busy September, but I am looking forward to it. I love the fall. Libby is doing great, she is getting sooo big! Here are some recent pics:





And I will also include a belly shot from this week. I apologize for the bare stomach, I promise this won't be an ongoing thing, its just the only way you can really tell for now...at least I hope! I bought a pair of maternity jeans at Meijer for $5! They are actually cute too! My mom bought me some cute work pants from there too. So here I am, sporting my new jeans. My stomach is definitely feeling bigger...my pants are getting a little tight! This picture quality isn't the greatest, but you get the idea!




Okay, I am off to the gym. I gotta keep this belly in check! HA! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

2nd Appointment!

We just got home from our second dr appointment...all is well! Yay, I am so relieved! I think I was more nervous for this one than the last appt! I finally feel like this pregnancy is "a go" and I can relax about it a little! And, I didn't gain any weight yet, according to their scale, I was nervous about that as well! :) I feel like I've gained about 10 pounds!!!

We got to hear the heartbeat on the doppler, 170 bpm! It was a very cool sound, I wish we could have listened to it longer. I ALMOST got another ultrasound, but no such luck :) I have been having some pain on my right side which might be a cyst, but they are going to wait until my next appt to see how it feels, and if it is still there, we will do another u/s then. So, not that I want there to be anything wrong, it would just be cool to see the baby again! If it is a cyst, it really isn't a big deal, they just monitor it.

I have been feeling soooo much better this week, almost back to normal, just in time for work which is good. I can't wait to tell everyone I work with!!! Then it will FINALLY be out in the open!

10 Week Update

So I haven't been great at updating this, but the past two weeks really have been pretty much the same. I am still feeling the same, but I am getting more used to it, so it doesn't seem as bothersome. I am excited to be at the 10 week mark though, getting very anxious for our next appointment on the 25th!

I went back to work this week, which turned out to be very productive. I am trying to be super organized to make this year run a little smoother and make the transition for my sub easier. Which, speaking of, I did tell my principal this week that I am pregnant. It wasn't too bad, he is so supportive and nice, but it is a little awkward telling a man that you don't really know that well that you are pregnant! But at least he knows now, so that is one big relief! I am very lucky to have such a supportive boss.

Other than that, let's see what's new...we are heading to the lake this weekend with my parents, Jenny, Doug, and Libby, which will be fun. I am excited to get some sun hopefully, I am so pale for the summer! Next week I am flying to Boston to see Angie, I can't wait!! Then the following week I will be back in my classroom trying to get everything set before we have to report back. So, my summer is quickly coming to an end!

Okay, I know you probably all don't really want to see my stomach, and I promise I won't do this weekly, but I figured I would take a picture of my (bloated) stomach at week 10, just to look back on. So here it is:



Speaking of bloat and pregnancy hormones, Brad and I got into a fight last night about being bloated. He was trying to tell me that "bloat" doesn't show, it's just an excuse people make when they feel fat. Hello, you are not a girl! Hehe, I don't think he expected me to react so strongly, but he wouldn't just give in! He was so insistent and kept arguing, finally I got so mad and then he got mad, and stormed out of the room! Geez! Then again, he insists "caramelized" is pronounced as "care-a-malized," so what does he know, right? :) I guess we will agree to disagree on that!

Well, that's about all I can think of. Please pray for Brad's grandpa who had a stroke last week. Also, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law are competing in the Louisville Ironman in a few weeks, GOOD LUCK!!!! It is so amazing how hard they work! They will do great, I wish we could go!

I'll post after this week, hopefully with some new pics of Libby! She is also doing great, gaining weight and getting so big already! Love her!

8 weeks!

So, when we went to the doctor last week, I thought I was 7 weeks, 5 days. Turns out I was only 7 weeks, so I felt like I was stuck there forever! I am so excited to finally be at the 8 week mark! It's crazy how much I worry about everything already. Of course I am trying to stay positive, but you hear of so many people who experience losses in their first trimester and there is always this underlying fear that something like that could happen. But, I am feeling pretty optimistic and excited overall.

I am definately feeling the symptoms, let me tell you! Right about the middle of my 6th week, I started feeling queasy. I haven't gotten sick yet, but the mornings and nights are the worst. I am also noticing how tired I am getting. My chest hurts, I'm cranky, emotional, and just feel yucky about 50% of the time. But at the same time, I am so glad I feel this way because I know it is for a very good reason!

I have been spending a lot of time at my sister's this past week with Libby. She is sooo cute! It makes it even more exciting, especially when I hold her or give her a bottle. I give parents so much credit though. I can't imagine being so sleep deprived and still functioning. Jenny and Doug are doing such a great job though, Libby is growing and getting bigger and bigger each day. It's amazing to see even the changes of her face filling out and learning her different expressions and noises. She is so cute, I just love her so much! Here are some recent pictures from the last week.

I am so happy to have a job where I can be home in the summer. It has been so nice to relax, spend time with family, and just be lazy! I am starting to get ready to go back to work though. I think the next month is going to fly by, which I am excited for. I can't wait to be out of this first trimester, mainly so I can finally tell everyone!!

First Dr Appointment

Brad and I had our first doctor appointment on Thursday, July 23rd. There is a baby in there! We had an ultrasound and got to see the heartbeat, which was 137 bpm. We got to hear the heartbeat too, which was cool! I was a little off on my due date, I am due on March 11th. Maybe it will be a St. Patrick's Day baby!

We really liked the doctor we saw, which was very reassuring. I had considered switching doctors at the last minute because the current one only delivers out of Royal Oak Beaumont, and we live about a mile away from Troy Beaumont. But, I am very happy with our decision to stay where we were at. We had a great experience at the office, and everyone was very nice and genuinly excited for us.

My next appointment is August 25th, and then I will almost be finished with my first trimester. I am anxious, because I want it to be out in the open! A lot of people already know, but I am still not ready to let the whole world know. I am so nervous it will be posted on Facebook or something...but hopefully we can keep it for a little while longer...Brad is the one I'm worried about! He informed me yesterday he sent out a mass e-mail to all of his friends...I made him send a disclaimer to not post anything on FB. It's cute though, he is so excited.

Here is a pic of our ultrasound...not like you can really see much, but it's still fun!

My New Niece!

Elizabeth Helen Smolinski

born July 11th at 5:01 pm.
4 lb, 10 oz, 18 3/4 inches long

Wow, what a crazy couple of weeks. Om Thursday, July 9th, my sister went in for her 34 week check up. Turns out, she had mild preeclampsia which led her straight to the hospital. They were monitering her blood pressure (which was very high) and urine, and around 10 pm they determined it had turned severe. The only way to get rid of preeclampsia is to deliver!

They began giving Jenny magnesium to lower her blood pressure, and began the induction process. My poor sister was so out of it, and it wasn't until after the fact that I really learned how much danger she was in. Scary! I can't imagine what her and Doug were going through. Of course you want your baby to stay in for as long as possible, and the worry about her health, your own readiness, etc. My sister has really amazed me these past couple of weeks. Doug too, I am so proud of them.

On Saturday, July 11, little Elizabeth (Libby) was born! She was/is so tiny!!! It is crazy how much you can love someone right away. I already love being an aunt and I haven't even gotten to hold her yet!

Jenny had to stay in the hospital for about a week, and Libby *might* be coming home today! This is where I am so amazed by Jenny and Doug. For the past two weeks, not being able to be with their daughter at all times, going back and forth to the hospital, breastfeeding, sleeping, etc. I am just so proud of them and it is so cool to see them as parents. They have instantly become mother and father, and it seems so natural for them. I love you Jenny and Doug! You are going to be the best parents, Libby is so lucky to have you!

Here are some pics, I can't wait to see her again at HOME and really get to play with her!

My favorite picture...Libby chillin under the lights, dreaming of being on a beach somewhere. I love you Libby!

The Big News!

I am pregnant!!!! Right now it is so early, we just found out yesterday. We have told our families, but plan on waiting a while to tell everyone. It is so early, it scares me, but we are staying positive and praying for a healthy baby in nine months!

Brad and I are really excited, it doesn't seem real at all yet. We found out yesterday, do I am probably just over 4 weeks. I don't get to see the doctor until July 23rd, so maybe after that it will sink it. Plus, I don't FEEL pregnant, but I'm sure that will change soon. I am going to take advantage of feeling fine now while I can!

From what I can calculate on line, it looks like our due date will be around March 7th. Hopefully I can take off the rest, or most, of the school year. More than likely I will have to go back to work for the last few weeks, but I don't mind!

Brad is really excited, it's cute! I think he will be more paranoid than me! He is already telling me I need to drink at least 3 glasses of milk every day. :)

This picture isn't very clear (it was from my phone, our camera is broken), but you can make it out! I was so suprised to see that word w/o "NOT" in front of it! I'll make this blog public once we are farther along and you can check in on our new journey!

My first time...at blogging!

Well, I have succumbed to the pressures of bloghood and decided to start my own! I love, love, love reading other people's blogs and getting a glimpse into their lives. It is always wierd because I start to feel like I know some of these people when in reality, it is only through their pictures and posts. But, yes, call it an addiction, being nosy, etc., I love to hear about what others are doing!

I'm not quite sure as to how good I will be at maintaining this blog, but hey, I figured I would give it a shot. So if you are reading this, thanks for checking it out and hopefully you will come back to visit!